Switch-stand.



'No. 892,758. PATENTED JULY v, 1908.

e, L. MANSFIELD.

SWITCH STAND. APPLICATION FILED JAN.15, 190B.

. To all whom it may concern;

GEORGE L. MANSFIEIJDfOF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SWITCH-STAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 7, 1908.

Application filed January 15, 1908. Serial no. 410,885.

Be it known that LGEO'RG'E L. MANSFIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have 'mven'ted a certain new and useful ImrovementjnSwitth-Stands, and declare the ollowing t'o'be afull, clear, and exact de- "scriptio"ri* of the same, such as will enable 'ethersskilledin the art to which it pertains make and'use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

' My invention relates to switch stands, articularl' those wherein, after a switc 1 is locked 1n one position, it may be thrown into its other positlon and again locked by a passing train; and it has for its object to simplify andimprove the construction thereof.

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized will be pointed out with articularity in the appended claims, but or a full understanding of my invention and of its various objects and advantages reference may be had to the following description taken in connection with detailed the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is aside elevation of a stand embodymg a preferred form of my invention; Fig. 2 is a section taken centrally of the stand on a plane at right angles to the plane of Fig.

1 Fig. 3 1s a plan view of one end of the operatmglever; and Fig. 4 1s a detail showmg the adjustable trunnion block carried by the lever.- "Referring to the drawing,- A indicates the frame of the switch standwhich is adapted to be supported rigidly adjacent the switch to be controlled, as for example upon ties B, B. This frame, which also serves as a housing for some of the movable parts, is divided upon a central vertical plane into two halves.

( is a member adapted to be revolubly su -ji orted by the frame and to carry a mast (1.

his member is adapted to be connected to the switch oints, so as to actuate the same,

lfy mea'iis'q a link 1D.

E is a short sh'aftwhidff is adapted to be supported, preferably at right angles to the member C, and to be geared thereto so that when the shaft is turned, as by means of.

a lever E, the member C is rotatedand, through its connection with the switch points, moves the same from one position to another according to the direction of rotation of the shaft; Ordinarily the movable-parts between the lever E and the link D are each built up of a plurality '0f,elements which must be manufactured independent of each other and then assembled in such a manner as to insure the permanence of such assembly. It is the purpose of the present invention to reduce the number of separate elements as low as possible and to this end I prefer to cast or otherwise form the members 0 and E in such a manner that all of the movable elements between the lever E and the linl D form an integral part of one or the other of these members. Po the above end the memher 0 has formed integral therewith at its lower end a lever arm 0 to which the link D is adapted to be attachcdybetween the ends of this member is a segmental gear cwhich is also formed integral with said member.

There is formed at the upper end of the member C a journal 0 and at a point immediately above the member 0 a second journal 0. These journals are so formed as to leave shoulders c and 0? between the same. The member E has formed integrally therewith near one end a flange projecting laterally therefrom and at its other end a pinion c Which'is adapted to mesh with the gear 0. Each of the halves of the frame isrovided with vertical half bearings a and a in axial alineirent with each other-,and wi h a horizontal bearing (L The parts are'so proportioned that the journals 0 and c of the member C may be introduced into the bearings a and a, respectively, of one of the halves of the frame, while the intermediatd portion of the member E, which also serves as a journal, may be placed in the bearing a of the same half-frame. The i'nion 6 will now mesh with the gear 0''; 't' e shoulders c and c will engage with fixed portions of the frame; while the flange e and the inner end of the pinion a will also engage with fixed portions of the frame. The other half of the frame may now be so rer-posed upon the parts thus assembled and be securely locked to its coi'npanion frame member by means of bolts such as F, F and F It will be seen that the members C and E are revolubly supported by the frame but are prer'ented from moving axially without the use of any detachable parts on these members: thereby furnishing an exceedingly simple, strong and durable construction wherein all danger of disarrz'mgement due to the loosening of separable parts avoided.

' arranged in a housing I and is normally held way.

The arrangement heretofbr'e' described may be used to advantage foriswitch stands wherein the sole control over-the switch is accomplished by means of the manually operated lever E, the switch being then looked in its'o enor closed position in any usual ere it is desired, however, to make use-ofa switchstand' which will permit a .not necessarily,cone-shaped and located diametrically opposite eabh other.

G is a plunger the end of which is also preferably cone-shaped so as to fit either of 20 the sockets in themember E. The plunger is referablyarranged within a cup-shaped @ho der H within which and beneath the v plunger is arranged a strong spring I. The

- older is connected to a movable lever K, preferably by means of a in and slot connection 7c. he member is provided with an ear is which is adapted to engage with a fixed ear Z and to which it may be locked in any suitable manner, as b means of a padlock or the like. The ho der H is slidably position to cause the'plunger to be seated in one. of the sockets'in the. member E by means of a spring M which is inte tween the member .1 and the hol er. The

. spring M is weaker than the spring I so that an operator may without difficulty compress the s ring M by pushing down on the member IE and thereby carry the plunger out of engagement with the socket in which it may be seated. The pin and slot connection between the holder and the member K is such, however, that the downward movement of the holder is arrested, in case the member E is turned, before the plunger is free of the socket. In order therefore to effect the release of the plungerfrom the socket by turning the member E when the member Kv is locked it is necessary to apply sufficient ower to compress not only the spring M ut also the spring I. The spring I is made powerful enoughso that therelease of the plunger from its cooperating socket cannot e effected by means of the hand lever E. However, whena .train is passing through the switch while its points are in engagement with the main rails, the lateral impetus given to the switch points by reason of the passage of the wheel flanges between one of the points and the rail is sufficient to turn the member ,E against the tension of the strong spring so as to complete] release the member E from the plunger an also to continue the rotation "of this member so as to bringfihe other socket into regist ation with the top of the osed beplunger. A's soon as the second socket alines with the plunger the springs act to throw the plunger upwardly into such socket so as to lock the switch in its new position.

The ear I and the housing Z may be associated with the rigid frame in any suitable manner: they may conveniently, however, form part of a yoke L which embraces that portion of the two halves of the frame which surrounds and forms a bearing for the shaft E, this yoke being secured in place by means of the bolts F and F which are used to fasten together this sideof the two-part frame.

The lever K may in this case be pivoted to a L wnward extension Z of the member L as a W. By making the parts which support the locking mechanism separate from the main frame or housing the same frame r housing may be employed for a switch stan in which the automatic feature is employed or whereinit is omitted. I

It will be seen that the urpose of making the sockets and the topo the plunger cone: shaped is to permit the" plunger to-be forced out of one of the sockets through the turning of the shaft and at the same time to make the plunger fit both sockets closely so'as to avoid lost motion. It will of course e understood, however, that any other desired shaping of the sockets or of the upper end .of

be force downward and out of one of the sockets when the shaft is turned sufficiently will be within the scope of my invention.

The member C is preferably made tubular so as to lighten and strengthen it and also to permit leads to a superposed lamp' to be passed up through it.

Since the point of connection between the lever arm of the switch stand and the linkor strut leadg in'g to the switch points in such a mannerthat the switch stand may be located in the most convenient position: the throw of v the proportions and adjustments of switch s vary greatly in practice, it is usually necessary in any particular case to locate the plun er which will permit the plunger. to

its lever being then nicely adjusted to suit the particular switch points which are to be controlled. This latter feature of my invention is illustrated in Figs. 3 mm.

0 represents a lever arm which ma be formed integral with the vmember C o the switch stand as in the case bf the member 0; or it may be any usual lever arm.

0 is a slot extending radially of the arm.

F is a block slidably mounted in the slot 0 ancll having laterally projecting triinnions 19 am 17.

Q is an elongated screw extending lengthcomprising a shaft I l wise through the slot 0 and journaled at its opposite ends in the lever. This screw passes through a screw-threaded opening p in the block P and is held against axial movement in any suitable manner as, for

example, by means of a pin (7 engaging in :1.

groove q. it will be seen that by turning the screw the block will be moved along the lever arm, so that, by connecting the lever of the switch-operating link or strut to the trunnion p and p, the throw of the switchstand may always be adjusted to meet the requirements of a particular switch.

Having now fully described my invention, what I c aim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a switch stand, a combined housing and frame divided on a central vertical plane, a vertical switch-operating member arranged in registering bearing portions in the halves of the housing,'a horizontal shaft arranged in registering bearing-portions in the halves of the housing, and intermeshing gears carried by said member ind said shaft within the housing.

2. In a switch stand, a combined housing and frame divided on a central vertical plane, a vertical switch-operating member arranged in registering bearing portions'in the halves of said housm a horizontal shaft arranged in registering caring-portions in the halves of said housing, integral shoulders upon said member and said shaft engaging with said housing to limit axial movements of said member and said shaft, and intermeshin gears carried u on said member and saiil shaft within sai housing.

3. In a switch stand, a combined housing and frame divided on a central vertical plane, a vertical switch-operating member arranged in registering bearing portions in the halves of said. housmg, a horizontal shaft arranged 1n re e gistering aring-portions in the halves of said housmg, integral shoulders upon said member and said shaft engaging with said housing to limit axial movements of said member and said shaft, and intermeshin 0 cars arranged within said housing and ormed integral with the said member and said shaft respectively.

.4; As an article 'of manufacture, a switchoperating member made of-a single piece and gear segment between the ends.

5. As an article of manufacture, a switchoperating member made of a single iece and comprising journal portions, shou ders adacent said ournal portions, a lever arm at one end, and a gear segment projecting laterally therefrom.

6. A switch lock comprising a plunger enaging with a socket in a .member adapted to be connected with a switch a sprin for holding said plunger in said socket, and a weaker ortion having a lever arm at one end am a laterally-projectmg spring supporting said plunger and the first mentioned s ring, the parts being so arranged that the wea er spring is normall prevented from being compressed sullicient y to permit the plunger to be withdrawn from said socket. 7. In combination, a supporting frame, a revolnblc switcli operating member having a socket, a plunger normally engaged in said socket, a holder for said )lunger, a spring within said holder beneath the plunger, a spring arranged between 'a fixed portion of said housing and said holder, and a lever adapted to be locked in a predetermined position to said frame, there being a lostmotion connection between said lever and said holder suiliricnt to permit the plunger to be partially retracted from its socket without compressing the spring in the holder when the lever is locked.-

"8. In combination, a supporting frame, a

-movable switell-operating member having a socket, a plunger normally engaged in said socket, a holder for said plunger, a'supporting spring for said plunger carried by said holder, a supporting spring for said holder carried by said frame; and a retracting lever for said holder and plunger adapted to be locked to said frame, there being a lost-mo-- tion connectionbetween said lever and said holder sufficient to permit the partial retraction of said plunger from the socket Without compressing the plunger-supporting spring. 9. In combination, a supporting frame, a

movable switch-operating member having a plunger from one of the sockets without compressing the plunger-supporting spring.

10. In combination, a supporting frame, a

movable switch-operating member having a.

pair of sockets, a plunger in position to be engaged in one of said sockets when the switch is open and in the other when the switch is closed, a holder for said plunger, a supporting spring for said plunger carried by said holder, a supporting spring for the holder carried by the frame, and a retracting lever for saidlholder and said plunger adapted to be locked against said frame, there being a lostmotion connection between said holder and said lever suflicient to permit the partial retraction of the plunger from one of thesockets without compressing ;the plunger-supthe plunger and one of said sockets bein s'o shaped that the porting spring, the endiof operation of said member by reason of a train passing through the switch causes the plun- 'ger to be forced out of said latter socket and to beengaged in the other socket, the holdersu port ng. spring being weaker than the ot er. U

11. In'eombination, a supporting frame; a

revoluble switch-o crating member mounted in said frame an having a pair of coneshaped sockets; v a plunger having a coneshaped end adapted to be engaged in one or the other of said sockets according as the switch is open or closed; means for manually operating said member; and controlling means for said lunger including a lever adapted to be locked to the frame, a strong spring between the lever and the plunger for permitting the lun er to be wholly retracted when the switcli is t rown by a passing train, and a weaker spring arranged to permit the plunger to be wholly retracted through said ever or partially retracted independently of the other spring when the switch is thrown by a passing train while the lever is locked.

12. In a switch stand, a pivoted lever, means for operating said lever, a link or strut for connectlng the lever to the oints of a switch, and means for adjusting t e point of connection between the lever and said link or strut.

13. In a switch operating mechanism, a le-' ver, said lever having guides thereon, a trunnion block arranged to travel between said guides means for adjusting the block along' tion in the presence of two wltnesses. H

i GEORGE I]. MANSFIELD.

Witnesses W F. EREUDENREIQH. RUBY V. NAsH. 

